Shipping box fob chicks



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R, A. GORsucH SHIPPING lEGX FOR' CHICKS -Orgnl Filed August 22l Jan. 4,'1927.

'Renaud' Jan. 4, 1921.

' *UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

' nom'r A. consumi, or emma, omo..

1 snrrrnra nox ron cmcxs.

' originar xo. 1,594,179,

The shipping of incubatorfhatched chicks has grown to large vproportions in this country and the problem of a suitable shipping box suiciently 'strong and yet cheap, sam-- v receipt by thepurchaser.

The invention 1s embodied in the example herein shown and described the features of novelty being finally claimed.

In the drawing hereto lattached is a front elevation the invention; Fig. 2

is a top lan view witha portion of the coverv remove line 3 3..

In the views 5 designates the body of-the box, the four vertical walls of which are formed of a strip of corrugated paper board bent to form the four walls leaving a narrow margin at one -end to be fastened with wire staples. In the bott-om 'of the box is secured vl. wooden frame 6 covered `with a floor' of woven wirescreen 11 of half-inch mesh, said woven wire fabricbeing suitably secured on the upper surface of said frame 6. Secured longitudinally in the box is a partition 7 of corrugated paper board dividing the box into two chambers, the strip forming the partition being providedV with bent ends that are stapled to the end wallszof the box. The partition 'Z is made of suicient depth. to extend to the wire screen oor but not quitel to the top of the box'so as to leave a small\` narrow space between it and the cover. The cover which is-designated 8 is formed of a single sheetof corrugated cardboard suitably cut at thecorners to permit the bending Fig. 3 is a cross section on the down of f our flanges and provide tabsforl staplingv the flanges together and fixing them in their proper position. p

The front longitudinal wall of the box is cut away longitudinally at. its lower vporlo tion substantially its entire length to form a narrow opening and the interior of said wall along said openingr is provided with a wooden strip 9 rabbeted as shown at 10, at its lower outer side to form with the wall -a narrow groove. The woodenv strip 9-rema my 21,1926, seran mi. 51,143, mea Aurait sa, im. Anuman :or reirme med November 28,

was.' semina. 150,995.

- ing. v

12 designates a trough of sheet metal, preferably galvanized sheet iron, having closed ends 13, 13 and a partition 14 dividing the trough intoa small receptacle 15 for water and a large receptacle 16 for chick feed. One wall of the trough is extended upwardV as shown at 17, this extension being provided with a series of circular holes'18 through which the birds can extend their heads to take feed and water. In use the upwar'dly extended wall of the trough is inserted in the groove referred to, the front rail of the frame 6 being rabbeted to receive the lower rear corner of the trough.y When the trough isv inserted in the position anddescribed it can be secured by one or more angle screws 15h turned into'the woodenrailof the frame 6 sjndicated.

In practice the chicks are usually shipped the they are hatched'=they 'being placed in the rear compartmentand upon a suitable laver wf' excelsior on the wire screen iloor. Chicks do not'thus early feed much, if at all` hndthe law allows shipment to destination not over seventy two hours distant by railvfroniuthe point of shipment.

The trough'12 and screw or screws for holding it are'shipped along with the chicks these being- .placed in the front compartment as suggested bybroken lines Fig. 3. The holes" 18` in thel extended wall of the trough 'are made of such size that a chick a day old cannot get its body through and a chick three weeks ,old' can get its head through. f

It will be observed that the -screen and the sxnall space at the top of the partition permit adequate indirect yventilation during transportation. If more ventilation is needed. when used as a brooder holes can be punched in the cover.

vThe purchaserof chicks upon .receipt of the box installs the trough, removes the partition 7 and supplies the trough with feed and water, the chicks afterwards feeding and drinking by poking their heads through the ,circular holes 18.

Upon arrivel of the box the lpurchaser should also remove the excelsior so that al1 droppings thereafter can pass through the wire screen Hoor onto a sheet of paper, a pan or other suitable receptacle placed thereunder for the purpose. I have found that inforces the edge of the wall along the 'openown where the screen floor is of about half-inch mesh no trouble is experienced on account of the legs of the chicks being caught in the mesh as the chicks naturally find the wires of the screen to grasp with their feet.k

The forms of the parts can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A combinedshipping device and brood# er for chicks consisting of a box provided with a wire screen bottom, a temporary re'- movable partition dividing the boxinto a conning transporting compartment and a compartment adapted, when said partition is removed, to form with the transporting compartment a brooder, said last named compartment provided with a longitudinal opening in one of its walls, a movable feeding and drinking trough having an upwardly extending wall provided with a series of openings adapted to be placed over said longitudinal opening and cooperate therewith to permit the chicks to extend their heads onl therethrough, vand means for securing sai trou h in said position.

2. `A s ipping box for chicksprovided with a wire screen bottom, a temporary partition dividing the box into compartments, one of said compartments having a wall provided with a longitudinal Vopening and a reinforcing strip for said opening forming a roove, and a feeding and drinking trough aving an upwardly extended wall provided with a series of openings through which the chicks can extend their heads, said ywall adapted to engage said groove and means for securing said trough when so engaged.A

3. As anew article of manufacture, a ship ing box for baby chicks that is converti le into a brooder, the same compris- V\ing a box body of paper board, a cover` therefor, and a trough movable from a position inside, to a definite position outside, the box, one wall of the box having an open-v ing through which access to the` trough may be had from the interior of vthe box when the trough is in the latter position.

4. vAs a new article of manufacture, a shipping box for baby chicks that is convertible into a brooder, the same comprising a box body of paper board having a foraminous bottom, a cover for the box,- a removable layer of suitable material covering the foraminous bottom, and a trough movable from a position inside, to a definite vposition outside, the box, one Wall of the box having an o ening through which access to the troug may be had from the interior of the box when' the trough is in the latter position.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping box for baby chicks that is convertible into a` brooder, the same comprising a box body of paperboard, a cover of similar material for said box body,

partition temporarily dividing the b ox into two compartments, a removable layer of suitable material covering the foraminous bottom in one of said compartments, a trough of a size to be accommodated in theother compartment, and means for attaching the trough to the exterior of one wall of the box, said wall having an opening through which access` to the trough may be had from the interior of the box.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a ship,- ping box for baby chicks that is convertible into a brooder, thesa'me comprising a paper board box body having a removable cover and a foraminous bottom, a removable partition -for temporarily dividing the box into compartments during shipment, a removable covering for the foraminous bottom in certain of the compartments, and a trough of a size to be accommodated in one of said compartmentsand that is adapted to be applied to the exterior of one wall ofthe box, said wall having an opening affording ccess to the trough from the interior of the 7 As a new article of manufacture, -a shipping box for babyv chicks that is convertible into a brooder, the same comprising a rectangular frame of paper board, a wire screen bottom inset within the'lower end of the frame, a lpaper board cover fora'pplication to the upper end of the frame, 'a' removable layer of suitable material covering the foraminous bottom, and a trough movable from a position inside, to a definite position outside, the box, one wall of the box having an opening through which access to the trough may be had from the interior of the box when the trough is in the latter position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ai'lix my signature.

' ROBERT A. GORSUCH.

the box body having a foraminous bottom, a removable 

